Coaxial switch



W. L. DAVIE COAXIAL SWITCH Filed Aug. 21, 1947 INVENTOR.

WILLIAM DAVIS ATTORNEY Patented May 30, 1950 UNITED STAT E S FATE NT OFFICE COAXIAL SWITCH WilliamL. Davis, Wray, Colo.

Application August 21, 1947, Serial No. 769,969

(Granted under the actof March 3, 1883, as amended April 39, 1928; 370G. 757) 9 Claims.

This invention relates tonew and useful improvements: in a: coaxialswitch for use'as a total or partial. disconnector' of: a coaxialcircuit'when inserted ini'said'circuitbetween the antenna and, forinstance, a radar set or'forany similar applicationwhereaitis. desirableto automatically disconnect a coaxial circuit.

When radar;.radio. and. television sets are in operation. it. may be'cdesirable for protective. reasons to automaticallydisconnect the common.

antenna when-a set is turned 011?, so that the said set will not becomedamagediby high power electrical' impulses incidents. upon the saidantenna. By" means of this switchrt-he connection may be merelyattenuated at anzair-gap instead- 0f being completely disconnected; ifit isclesirable to leave the antenna partially connected to a set,according to the conditions under which the setis to operate orbemaintained in a stand-by conditiOn.

Ihis device operates as a plunger type coaxial SWitCl'hby means of asolenoid which, when energized, holds the said switch'in the closedposition, and when said solenoid is deenergized it allows the saidswitch to open so that any signals coming-in over the coaxial'circuitfrom the connectedantenna-mustpassacrcss a protective airgap beforereaching. the set. A coaxial circuit must be protected throughoutby athick covering of. polystirene insulating material, or equivalent, sothat none of the signal impulses become "jammed. up or affected byelectrical conditions outside the circuit in the vicinity of the saidcoaxial cable. Similarly all the circuit conductors within the switchmechanism must be amply protected by insulation throughout. There aremany uses for such a remote-controlled switch which will operate inseries with other switches so as to make or break a coaxial circuit asthe other circuits are made or broken.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a switch that is soconstructed as to be suitable for operation in a coaxial circuit.

Another object of this invention is to so design and produce a switchthat is suitable for installation in a coaxial circuit and so as to beremote controlled by means of a solenoid operated mechanism.

Still another object of this invention is to so design and produce aremote controlled switch that is amply protected as to insulationthroughout its electrical circuit so as to be suitable for use in acoaxial circuit.

A further object of this invention is to provide a remote controlcoaxial switch that will either attenuate or completely disconnect: thecircuit.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a remote controlswitch that is suitably insulated for use in a coaxial circuit and willoperate in series-with switches of other circuits;

These and other objectsof this invention, and the variousfeaturesanddetailsof theconstruction, operation and use. thereof, arehereinafter more fully set forth and'described with reference to theaccompanying drawing in which'like numbers refer to like parts andinwhich:

Fig. 1 is an isometric-view ofa solenoid operated plunger typeswitchsuitable for use in a coaxial circuit and with portions cutaway-so as to clearly show the interior mechanism;

Referring now to the drawing, numeral I designates a solenoid operating.mechanism, which throdghlever '2 operates plunger 3 to which it isconnected in slot 4- by'meansof nuts Sand washer 6 through spring 1. Nut5.-may be-adjusted along the threaded end of plunger 3 so asto adjustthe position of plunger 3 when solenoid. mechanism I is in its openposition thereby permitting adjustment of the air'gap to be describedbelow.

When the electric circuit controlling solenoid l is closed, lever 2-moves. plungerv 3. up-with its contact point 8- into sliding contactwith flexible finger contactor 9-that is connected to one side of acoaxial circuit (not shown). Center conductor It, which moveslongitudinally along its axis, has making contact throughout its travelwith plunger i slidable in rod l2 and held in continual contact withcenter conductor lil by means of compression spring l3. Rod l2 carries abushing M in which plunger ll slides longitudinally. Rod l2 has contactpoint l5 which makes sliding contact with the coaxial circuit (notshown) by means of finger contactors l5. Said finger contactors l6 areheld in and insulated from connector cap I l, and nut 58 is threaded toconnector ll so as to clamp said connector I! in housing (not shown).Main connector body it is secured to connector cap I! by threadedferrule El and a screw 20 tapped into body 19 and bearing against theflange of ferrule 21 Insulating bushing 22 is pressed into mainconnector body 59 and insulates rod l2 from said main connector body l9.Center conductor I0 is slidably held in main connector body l9 byinsulating bushing 23.

Connector cap 24 is axially located on main connector body l9 andfastened to said body If) by threaded ferrule 25. Center conductor Illis insulated from plunger 3 by bushin 25, which is tapped into nut 21,which screws on to plunger 3. Spring disc 23 contacts a surface 29 ofthe main connector body 19 when contact point 8 is moved, by means ofsolenoid I, into flexible finger connections 9, thus closing all airgaps for the coaxial circuit between flexible finger connections 9 andfinger contactor IG.

Metal housing 3!] slides over and is fastened to main connector body I 9by screws (not shown) as an outside covering. Plate 3! are for wrenchgrips.

While a particular embodiment of this invention has been illustrated anddescribed herein, it is not intended that this invention be limited tosuch disclosure, and changes and modifications may be made andincorporated within the scope of the claims.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or forthe Government of the United States of America for governmental purposeswithout the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

What is claimed is:

1. A switch for a coaxial circuit comprising a housing closed at one endby a coaxial terminal plug having the end of the conductor in the centerthereof, said housing having an opening in its side closed by anothercoaxial terminal plug with the end of another conductor therein, aplunger slidably mounted in said housing, a contact conductor mounted onsaid plunger for slidably making contact with said first terminalconductor end, and another contact conductor insulatably mounted in saidside openin in continuous slidable contact with said first contactconductor and resiliently held in contact with said other terminalconductor end.

2. A switch for a coaxial circuit as defined in claim 1, wherein saidsecond contact connector includes two telescoping parts urged apart by acompressed spring to provide the continuous contacts defined.

3. A switch for a coaxial circuit as defined in claim 1, wherein saidconductor ends comprise flexible fingers, and the contact conductorshave matching contact points.

4. A switch for a coaxial circuit as defined in claim 1, operating meansfor reciprocating said plunger to move said first contact conductor intocontact with the corresponding terminal conductor end to close saidswitch, and to separate said conductor and end to open said switch.

5. A switch for a coaxial circuit as defined in claim 1, operating meansfor reciprocating said plunger, said means being controlled by asolenoid for remote control and simultaneous oper ation with othercontrol switch means in said circuit.

6. A switch for a coaxial circuit as defined in claim 1, operating meansfor reciprocating said plunger, said means comprising an adjustableconnection for adjusting the gap between said conductor and end in theopen position of said switch for regulating the attenuation of thesignals passing said switch.

'7. A switch for a coaxial circuit as defined in claim 6, wherein saidadjustable connection comprises an operating lever resiliently heldagainst the inside of an adjustable stop on said plunger by the end of aspring the other end of which is fixed to said plunger, wherebyresilient closing of the switch and positive adjustable opening thereofis provided.

8. A switch for a coaxial circuit comprising a housing having an openingin its side and at one end thereof, coaxial terminal plugs for closingthe openings, each of said plugs having a central conductor, a plungerslidably mounted in the other end of said housing and having aconducting contact thereon for contacting the conductor of the end plug,and a conductor insulately mounted in said side opening for connectinsaid conducting contact and the conductor of the side plug.

9. A switch according to claim 8, and operating means for reciprocatingsaid plunger said means comprising an adjustable connection foradjusting the gap between said contact and the conductor of the end plugin the open position of said switch.

WILLIAM L. DAVIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,411,553 Ramo Nov. 26, 1946FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 36,349 France Feb. 3, 1930

